Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-10

Highly Exciting Sunsmer sport In th'
AdirOndaCks.

THE Toll AND TROUBLE OF A LONG MARCH FINALLY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. UNDER A JACK LlGHr-A
YOUNG DOE KILLRD-sEAruHs OF CAMPING OUT IN
| THE MOUNTAINS
Correspondence of TIE EVENING STAR.
| DEERFEATHER CAMP, Sept. S.-For the hotel
and "boarding-camp" keepers, this has probably
been the most successful season since the Adiron-
| dackS became known as q summer resort and SAM
| tarium The intense heat OF June and July drove
| the tourists into the woods in painting and per-
| spring crowds by both the eastern and the west
ern gateways until all the camps, from Paul
Smiths to the Old Forge, filled to overflow
Ing. The cooler weather which came with the
approach OF september encouraged many who
sought refuge from the heat In these forest-elad
mountains to return TO the city, but the season is
| by no means over as yet Indeed September is
considered by many the most delightful month OF
| the year in the woods, though most cold-blooded
visitors fly when they discover on the foliage the
FIRST brilliant necks which indicate that that gor-
geous but reckless colorist, Jack Frost has begun
| his autumn's work. The nights have already be-
come decidedly chilly, but the days are made de-
phere and its glorious bracing qualities. With
August the trout fishing practically closes, but
tbourb Of the exeisemen, the noh Ii
deer hunting. This became legal on the 18th OF
August in the form known as floating" or shoot
Ing under jack-light at night. Dogging, which
began on the LIST, was awaited in this region (on
| the Fulton Chain OF Lakes where the laws are
fairly wei Observed with no little Impotence. as
unusually unfavorable weather has made the
"hoating" season a failure. But few deer were
Killed, although they are said TO be more plentl-
where venison is to be had are considered fortu-
nate. One Of these is Deerfeather Camp, and how
the ventson was obtained may be worth telling TO
afford readers OF The STAR clear idea OF the pecu
liar Adirondack institution OF
| FLOATING FOR DEER.
| 1t is the custom OF guides and sportsmen in the
| Adirondacks before the season begins to let one
another know, casually or otherwise, the lake.
pond. or marsh on which they intend 10 .'noat" on
| the first night. This is done to avoid crowding
and unpleasant collisions OF Jack-ghts on small
lakes and ponds. Amicable arrangements are
Us ano ARE
| Big Stafford Lake enjoys the reputation or being
one OF the best 1oatng grounds In this region. 1t
covers only few acres, but because near by there
is still smaller pond known as Little Stafford. To
directed their course the day the floating season
| began. Between the fourth lake OF the Fulton
Chain, On which Deerfeather Camp is situated,
and Big Stafford, there are two carries" or port
ages OF two miles each, and about q half mile OF
padding. We started after dinner OF pleasant
arrived at the beginning OF the first carry Quickly
dragging the canoe up the steep bank, We adjusted
the yoke, and got under the boat while the guide
piles on hts back, and OF we started along the
trail through the woods. At first our course was
up the side Of the mountain, and though the
| canoe had seemed very light when put 1t on my
| shoulders 1T
| INCREASED IN WEIGHT WITH ALARMING RAPIpITY,
| and by the time the first quarter OF mile had
been traversed the perspiration was pouring on
me in streams and was painting and blowing like
an 11th-street hill horse on a cold morning. Ihad
| long nursed a suspicion that my canoe weighed
| considerably more than the 30 pounds her build
| ers rated her at and as the trail grew muddipr,
and the rocks roots, and fallen logs became more
| n.
! yeioped into conviction. There could be no
| doubt about 1t. That canoe weighed about 20
| pounds. / was certain She was as heavy as a
| guides boat had once staggered under for a few
rods along that same TRAIL But just as il seemed
to me would have to give In and acknowledge to
| the guide that even my much-vaunted light canoe
| was more than could convey We came to a crest"
on the trail. The rest consisted OF sapiing placed
horizontally on two crotcheS about eight feet high
On this placed the bow OF my canoe, allowing
the stern TO rest on the ground, while breathed
great sigh Of relief and quickly got my CALLED
way, is another Adirondack institution. 1t is hO-
lowed out SO as to lit the shoulders or man. Hav-
| that the latter balances nicely upon it when
turned over, the carrier gets beneath the inverted
boat, adjusts the yoke to his shoulders
the rough mountain trails AS the the boats
used by tire guides weigh from 90 to 80 pounds it
man to long endure the hardships Of guiding 10
| the AdirOndacks. But we have rested long enough
and, again getting into the yoke, I resume my
|
gnarled roots. and sharp-edged rocks, and through
| mud-holes and treacherOus beaver meadows
where the damp and soggy ground shook and gave
manner The day was very warm, and the per-
SEPARATION, pouring down from beneath my hat,
| almost blinded Inc. Then the mosquitoes and
punates discovered my Whereabouts beneath the
Inverted canoe, and they hurried In With fendish
industry to add their quota to my already numer-
| GUS 'miserieS." Mosquitoes are annoying enough,
as everybody knows, but the punky is at least 800
per cent worse His attack is made in silence. and
he is SO small that even when you feel his red-hot
| little singer penetrating your skin 1t is not
always easy to locate him. An enterprising gath
ering OF Adirondack punkies can make q man
about as uncomfortable in short space Of time
as anything In the shape OF an insect 1 ever have
had the misfortune to encounter, not even except
ing the much-execrated black fly. The
| ough-going shOrt-hour- movement man, and con-
| fines his depredations to the morning and
Of them '.laying ofr' In retired spot in the
| woods, as l seemed TO have done trudged and
stumbled along, however, releasing one OF my
| HANDS now and then to annihilate particularly
exasperating mosquito. AT every step the canoe
grew heavier and heavier, the air became hotter
and hotter STILL the insect pests seemed increase
| steadily in number and v1gor, and of course the
| trail grew rougher and harder. Like Chip, in
| "DreaMs, wanted to be ''tough," and had made
up my mind to carry that canoe to the end OF tue
trail or perish In the attempt. 1t really began to
| look, however, that positively could not endure
1t five rods more. was so exhausted that did
| not care to betray my condition by asking the
guide how much further it was TO the lake. But
still stuck 1t out. Right before me was steep
and rocky ascent. The crisis had come, / felt.
would be just able to get TO the top OF that hill for
it was short, and then would have to give in and
climb. Slowly and painfully dragged myself and
the boat toward the top. picked every step with
extra care, for felt that II lost my balance in
the least boat and carrier would 60 down In CON-
mon ruin. approached the highest point in the
RIDGE and as l raised my eyes to look ahead they
were greeted by sight which filled me with as
much JOY as did the first view OF the Pacific Ocean
| from the dividing ridge OF the Isthmus I'LL the
heart of Magellan. Through the thick branches
OF the trees
CAUGHT THE CLINT OF WATER
at the foot OF the steep hill on which stood. In
| stantly forgot my CALLED shoulders and my gene
| raj exhaustion and, hurrying down, soon had the
| immense satisfaction Of depositing my canoe on
| the pebbly beach of a small but pretty sheet or
water, which Is known as the First Lake OF the
few minutes we placed our guns, axe, and pack
basket in the canoe and padded to the opposite
| Shore where we found the trail for Big Stafford.
Here we lett the canoe as there was an old boat on
Big Stafford which we could use in floating, and
thus save ourselves the hardship OF carrying our
own boat over the swampy and 1ll-cut trail or two
miles. Gathering up our impedimenta, on we
| was so overgrown with underDrush as at times to
| be almost 1ndisttnguiShable. 1t crossed two or
| three beaver meadows, one OF them an eighth OF q
mile long. Here the trail would be readily missed
by one unacQuatnted with II, as 1t was entirely
| obhterated by the tall grass which grew in
rank luxurlance In the swampy soil Huckleberry
bushes grew thickiy on one side OF the
| meadows, and were loaded down with fruit al
most as large as grapes, and OF rich favor sell
dom found In the huckleberr1eS sold In cities. The